Welcome to the new year again friends! The previous years have indelible memories that will continue to linger in many minds whether it is for good or bad. There is no doubt that the new year holds lots of hopes for redemption and restoration, but the odds of the past have a way of creeping up to make the future look daunting.

Just like every year, the past year delivered its portion of heartbreaks, filtering pain, extortions, abuses, failed promises and expectations, manipulations, sicknesses, and deaths from known and unknown people and quarters. The cycle continues as we enter a new year, but you should also know that each year is loaded with lots of goodness that are worth celebrating and exploring. One of the good tidings of this year is healing for your past hurts and losses.

I found the following scriptures in Psalms 107 inspiring, so let us begin to explore them for our healing process and progress this year.

STEP ONE TO HEALING – THANKSGIVING.

Psalm 107: 1 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” NLT

The first step to healing this year is to be thankful to God for a new year of His enduring love and goodness. You might be asking yourself – Why should I thank God when I barely make it into the new year and with loads of trouble? Well, thanksgiving is key because in doing so you recognize that God is magnanimous in mercy for not allowing that overwhelming and roaring situation to take you out in the past year. To be forward-looking, the new year presents you with opportunities to recuperate and bounce back. Those individuals who were defeated by the unfortunate circumstances that happened to them, some even dead, cannot seek redress in the new season.

STEP TWO TOWARDS HEALING – VOCALIZE YOUR HEALING.

Psalms 107:2 “Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.” NLT

This year resolve to be vocal about how God is healing you, the process God has started, is taking you through, and by faith the results you want to see. Be rest assured, though healing can be a process or instantaneous. Be ready to capture each moment, document each moment, and in due time release your story using the appropriate medium as led by your Healer.

STEP 3 TOWARDS YOUR HEALING – BE COMPLETELY OPEN TO GOD

Psalms 107:3-5 “³For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. ⁴Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. ⁵Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.

Your situation as pathetic as is, is one of many and God is gathering and addressing each person’s emotional struggles, homelessness, hunger issues, breakdowns, etc. in their numbers. The scripture even recognizes that you nearly died and worse of it all, no one seems to care. The lands where God is gathering people with issues are numerous, I am one of many, and so are you. Having recognized this, what should be our response to the God who is expending energy to gather us from our hurting places? A sincere appreciation and genuine openness in the matter of our lives. If you must cry as you approach God, do so sincerely, and speak about your hurts. Open up about how disappointed you felt when your wife remained without a Baby for years in your marriage, how it displeased you to have experienced a heartbreaking divorce, or how it pains your heart to be jobless and feel irresponsible. Tell God about it all, He hears. This step is further buttressed in the next step.

STEP 4 – KEEP ASKING

Psalms 107:6 ^“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.” NLT

This is not a time to complain but to ask. John 16:23-24 “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks! MSG

Your time of redress and healing is near and thankfully you have a God who is ready to heal by your side. What others have done in the past, when deeply hurt and embarrassed was to ask the God Who can help and heal for the appropriate help as seen in Psalms 107:6. If you are hurt right now, keep asking God for help and healing necessary for your situation. If you know of anyone hurting, grieving, and struggling encourage them to cry for help from our loving and ever faithful God.

As I conclude, I like this part of Psalm 107.  ¹⁷“Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins. They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door. “LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.”

You see friends, even when our folly brings punishment, we can still benefit from the enduring love of God that supplies healing. If you are not hurting but found yourself reading this article, God has healing for you in places you aren’t aware of yet, so follow the entire 4 steps above, to store up quick healing for you when you need it most.

As a reminder in your healing process friend. Vs 8 and 9 tell us again to PRAISE. “Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

God through Jesus is the restorer, deliverer, healer, and hurt remover for His great love which endures for all generations. Amen.